Slicing machine



- Aug. 13, 1935. H. J. CRINER SLIGING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet .1

Filed June 20, 1930 FEE Q,

TEL

attowwq Aug. 13, 1935. H. J. CRINER SLICING MACHINE Filed June 20, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 13, 1935. H. J. CRINER smcma MACHINE Filed June 20, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

C'lttomq F N l A?!) Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED srArss PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims. (01. 14698 My invention relates to improvements inbread slicing machines in which a plurality of series of opposed rotary cutting blades are used to slice the bread and particularly to the class of machines which leave the successive slicesof bread united by a small uncut portion, although with certain modifications, it might also ;be used to slice loaves entirely through, and the objects of my invention are: I

1. To provide a machine of superior efficiency and speed of operation which will permit a practically continuous flow of loaves of bread to the cutting mechanisms;

2. To provide improved cutting blades;

3. To provide means by which the rotary cutters may operate in the direction of the travel of the bread without dangerof displacement of the loaves during the cutting operationj 4. To provide means for accelerating the travel of the bread at the point where it first reaches the cutting mechanism and for retarding it while it is passing through the several series of cutters;

5. To. provide adjustable means for regulating the feed of the bread to and through the machine 6. To provide improved means for maintaining uniform tension upon the driving belt and rapidly taking up any slack that may occur therein.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which}- Figure 1 is a plan view of my machine but with a portion of the right or front end of the machine broken away for clearness of illustration and showing some of the bearings and connected parts in section;

Figu'reZ is a sectional elevation on the line 2-2 of Figure l; r

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine showing the adjustabledriving mechanism in section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;'

.Figure' l is an enlarged detail off'a'portion of the adjustable driving mechanism;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of one of the cross-bars and pins secured therein;

Figure 6 is a detail showing the arrangement of the grooves which guide the cross bars, .10;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail showing the preferred form of cutting blade.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the several views.

My apparatus comprises a frame made up of side members, and I, which correspond closely, and tie-rods, 3, connecting the side members, I and l, and secured in place by nuts, 3a, threaded thereon.

parts In the upper portion of the side members, I and I; I mount a plurality of cutter shaft bearings, 25, arranged in two series, oneseries being directly above and spaced from the other series. I prefer to use self-aligning ball-bearings to reduce friction and insure smoothness of operation.

' In the lower series of bearings, I mount the lower cutter shafts, 22. Each of these cutter shafts extends transversely of the machine-and each of them carries upon one and adjacent the side member, 1', a pulley, 3!, united thereto adapted to .be driven by a belt, H, from any suitable source of power.

Directly over the lower cutter shafts, I mount the upper cutter shafts, 23, which extend transversely of the machine and the corresponding ends of which carry similar pulleys, 3|, adapted to be driven by the belt, I I.

. The front lower cutter shaft carries upon its opposite 'end a small drive pulley, 31, and the opposite end of the rear cutter shaft carries a similar drive pulley, 34. A feed roller, 2|, is mounted between the side members upon a shaft, 38', which extends transversely of the machine and is mounted in suitable bearings, 33, formed therein. A discharge roller, 20, extends transversely of the side members and is mounted upon a'shaft, 35', which is revolvably mounted in suitable bearings formed in the side members, i and I.

The feed roller shaft, 38, carries a pulley, 38, which is driven by a belt, 39, from the drive pulley, 31, and the discharge roller, 20, carries uponone end a pulley, 35, which is driven by a belt, 36, which in turn is driven by the pulley, 34. The pulleys, 31 and 38,.and the pulleys, 34and 35, are so proportioned that the feed roll and. dis-1 charge rolls operate at a much lower speed than the cutter shafts, 22. I

Abread' board .or support, 4,, extends trans-- versely' of the central portion. of. the machine betweenjthe. side frames and is secured to the side frames'by upwardly extending flanges and bolts or set screws, 4b. This bread support has a plurality of transverse openings surrounding the cutter shafts, 22, and the portions of the bread board adjacent the cutter shafts are deeply slotted with slots, 4a, so as to permit the cutting blades, 25, to revolve through these slots, 4a, without striking the bread board, 4.

Upon each of the lower cutter shafts, I mount a series of blades, 25, and upon each of the upper cutter shafts I mount a corresponding series of blades, 25'. I.

A motor, I0, is mounted upon the frame and secured thereto by bolts, IOa. The motor shaft,

IBb, carries upon its outer end a'drive pulley, I2, which drives the belt, II. The belt, II, passes partially around each of the lower and upper drive pulleys on the cutter shafts alternately and is so positioned thereon as to drive the cutter shafts in opposite directions, but preferably in the direction inwhich the bread travels when being fed to the machine-by the conveyors to be hereafter described.

An idler pulley, I3, is revolvably mounted in one end of a take-up arm, I4, pivoted tothe ma, chine by a pivot, i5. A tension spring, I6, has one end united to the lower end ofithe arm, I 4,

and its opposite end united to an adjusting bolt, 1 I8, which passes through a stud, I'I, formed upon a the side frame, I, and adjustable therein by air adjustment nut, is, threaded upon the bolt, I8." The action of the spring, I6, when under tension, will be to retract the-'l ovieiehd of the arm, I4, thereby forcing the pulley, I3, tightly against the belt, H, and taking up any slack that may ecur therein.

on the'iiiner race of the side members, I and t; I forni narrow grooves, 13-, whichreceive the outer ends of and act as guides for the cross-bars,

F9; These Crossbars-are fiatstripsof metal 031- tending transversely of the machine and each'of I them has a plurality of"piiis-,--TI}secured" at the front edge thereof and so positioned as to pass- .between' the paths of the 'v'arious cutter blades.-

1 'l 'he ends of the crossba.-rs, 19 are secured by rivets, I2, upon studs, 69, win-chars formed upon uniformly spaced links in the sprocket chains,

69. Sprocket wheels, 65, are mountedupon sprocket shafts, 56, secured in suitable beafings at the front and 'r'earends of'the side frlamesgit having been necessary to orriit the front sprockets onaccount of lack of room, but the'front sprockets are every way similar to the rear sprockets.

and are similarly mounted. ,Sprocket chains, 89,

are mounted upon the sprocketwheel's, iiifaiid move longitudinally of the machine, carrying the cross bars; I8, with them as they move" The sprocket wheels are driven by a; bevel gear wheel; '50, united to the rear sprocket shaft; the

shaft being preferablyiinoiihted inball-bear'rrligs,

61, mounted in bearing housings, .68, formed in the side'- frame'iriemberafi and I,

In the operation ofbread slicing machines, it is desirable to use bread wrapping machines" in connection therewithja'nd when so used, it is l w; V mm: forms worm, qprwhicii projects into'a ge'ar formed in the worm'gear;

necessary to synchronize the two machines so that the sliced loaves will be deliveredto the.

wrapping rnachine'at proper inter'vals. In orderto furnish 'means'for controllihg the rate at whichthe loaves ofbre'adwil'l beslicd by this machine, I provide a'vari'able drive arranged fUpon one end of thembtofshaft,

cas which maybei i iced to the side "frame hi'e'mb'er, I, by any suitable means. A'worrn gear,

if, is mounted upon' a suitahlepinion, 45, witiiiii the gear case, in mes with the worm, to;

5 2, within the gear case, 44.

In order to balance the disc, 42, I provide an idler, 42a, secured upon a pin or shaft, 42b, mounted in the gear case, 44, opposite the friction disc, 48. The disc, 48, has united thereto a hub, 49, which has an annular rack, 50, out therein, and this rack meshes with a pinion, 5|, which is united'to the inner end of the pinion shaft, y The outer end of the pinion shaft, 52, is provided with a control handle, 53, which has an extension, 5 5, formed upon one end thereof. A series of detents or index points, 55, are formed upon the outer face of the gear case in the path of travel of the extension, 54, of the handle, 53. The'upper end of the shaft, has a collar, 59, secured thereto by a pin, 59a, adjacent to a bevel gear pinion, 59b,

which meshes with the bevel gear, 60, previously I described.

An apron, I, is mounted between the side members, I and I, at the intake endof this machine, upon which the bread ma be placed to be fed to the machinebythe conveyor and a similar spine, 5-, is nlofintel between the side frames-atthe discharge end of the machine to recel-vethe bread as it comes away from the cutters and the discharge roll, 29-; The blades, 25, are splined or keyed upon the sister shafts and are kept at a fixed distance apart by spacers, 24, mounted theshai'ts between blades; 'While various forms of blades may beused, I prefer tous'ethe shown ini ig'ure ,Tifn which the-"body of the blade is no larger than the spacers which separate the blades and theieiitende'd cutting portion is sharpened-upon its advancing edge upon its.

outer circumference. I I preferlto form the m ter circumference of my blade upon an are described by a radius corresponding to the radius upon which the outer edge of the blade" travels as it revolves with the cutter shaft without "rounding the corners as I find that shar cnrnersiinprove the cutting action" of the" blades. j

While I have shown three opposed pairs of out is: shafts, it 'is obvious that the number may be varied to shit the desires of the user; In slicing 7 bread rotary ciittersyitis important that any iwdiffig' iii jamming action due to the wedge ing' effect of the cutters, be avoided. To; avoid this, it is necessar to limit the number of cutters winch are ina given loaf of bread at a given time. I therefore prefer to use-three pairs of cutter shafts. For ordinary flinch-loaves, this will require EX blades upon each of one pair 'o'f' shaf'ts' and s blades upon or the shafts'fof the other twqpairs in order to provide a. slice of standard thickness approximately half in eh or slightly less.

I ferto arrange the blades upon a given shaft in two rows extending in diametrically opposite'directidn's' arid the shafts" of a; given pair are so arranged that the blades upon oneshaft of, such, pair travel in the same vertical planes as" the biases upbn th' other shaft or. s pair and when blades uponthe lower smart-are extending directiy upwardly therefrom, corresponding blades tnef upper shaft are extending direct I3 downwardly therefrom so as to cut simultane ously. The blades of each of the other pairs" are simirariy arrange-(i. V a V I also. arrange thbeltingof machine .so that the shafts of it Sit/eh pair travel a ways.

fed to the machine. V S When traveling in this direction, the cutters iii opposite directions and that the blades eater in the dir'ct'idn in which the bread is moving;

the bakmg process.

tend to accelerate the feeding motion of the bread and it is necessary to provide means for retard-- ing the bread as it passes through the cutters. I'have accordingly arranged my. feeding apparatus so that as the loaves are brought into the machine at the frontor right end of, Figure 2. they are pushed forward by the rear edgeof the cross-bar, 10. As soon as a given loaf of bread comes in contact with the feed roller, 2|, which is moving at a higherrate of speed than the chain, 69, the loaf is carried rapidly toward the rear until it comes incontactwith the pins. ll, and. front edge of the cross-bar, 10, of the preceding cross-bar.

Before the loaf has passed entirely away from the feedroll, ,Zl, the cutting operation of the first series ofcutters has begun and the pressure or friction exerted upon the loaf by these cutters keeps the loaf in contact with such pins, H, and, cross-bar, 10, until it reaches the next series of cutters and the same retarding action follows through each of the series of, cutters. As the bread leaves the last series of cutters, it is kept in contact with the pins by the discharge r011,

20, until it is delivered out upon the apron, 5,

from which it may be removed either manually or from which it may be delivered to a wrapping machine as desired.

My machine is preferably designed to be capable of a speed that will drive the cutters from six hundred to twelve hundred revolutions per minute or from ten to twenty revolutions per second, while thebread may travel at a speed of 1 to 3 inches per second. It is thus obvious 1 that each blade will pass through a given loaf many times. As the most advantageous speed for the cutters and feeding apparatus will vary with different varieties of bread stuff and with the length of time that has elapsed'since baking, I do not limit my claims to any given speed of operation.

'In the operation of my machine, after the belting is adjusted, the motor is started and the feed control set at the desired speed. The bread is then placedupon the apron, 1, either'manually or mechanically as desired and each loaf is preferably laid upon one side with the top of the loaf turned toward the cutters so that the first part of the loaf to be cut will be what was the top of the loaf as it stood in the oven during It is quite important to feed the loaf in this way because the top of the loaf is frequently much softer than the bottom of it and in such cases, it is desirable to out the top first to avoid any crushing effect.

. ,As the bread reaches the feed roll, 2|, it is carried forward until it comes in contact with the pins, H, which act as a retarder to retain the bread against displacement as it passes through the successive series of cutters as above described. The first series of cutters cuts onethird of the desired number of slices, the second series cuts an additional third and the last series cuts the remaining third.

As the bread leaves the last series of cutters, it is carried forwardly by the discharge roll, 20, onto the apron, 5, from which it may be removed by any desired means either manually or mechanically.

The disc, 42, and the friction disc, 48, of the variable speed control mechanism, may be formed of any suitable materials, but I prefer to use a metal core, 49, surrounded by a compressed fiber ring to constitute the disc, 48, but bakelite, coml. A bread slicing machine comprising a frame,

having parallel side members suitably secured in spacedrelation, a plurality of pairs of upper and lower cutter shafts mounted in the frame extending transversely thereof, a plurality of spaced cutter blades mounted upon each of said shafts, respectively, thecutters upon each shaft of any given pair being mounted to revolve in the same planesasthe cutters upon theothershaft of said pair and the shafts of each pair being so spaced apart as to leave sufiicient clearance for the crossbars hereinafter mentioned to pass between and clear the opposed cutters, a bread support secured between the side members at approximatelythe level of the lower series of shafts, longitudinal slots formed in the bread support in the paths of the cutter blades, front and rear conveyor shafts revolvably mounted in, the frame having sprocket wheels mounted thereon; sprocket chains mounted upon the sprocket wheels and traveling midway between the shafts of each pair of cutter shafts, a plurality of spaced conveyor bars secured to and extending transversely of the sprocket-chains at right angles theretmthe ends of each bar extending outwardly a short distance beyond the sprocket chains and into the grooves hereafter mentioned and being adapted to slide therein, a plurality of pins united to the rear edge of each of said respective conveyor bars and extending vertically above and below same andspaced thereon soas to travel between adjacent cutter blades, a longitudinal groove formed upon the inner face of each side frame intermediate the opposed cutter shafts and adapted to receive and guide the ends of the conveyor bars, a feed table secured in the frame, a feed roll mounted in the frame intermediate the feedtable and the first of the cutter shafts with its peripheryextending slightly above the feed table adapted to receive successive loaves of bread from the feed table andcarry them forwardly into contact with v spaced relation, a plurality of pairs of upper and lower cutter shafts mounted in the frame extending transversely thereof, a plurality of spaced outter blades mounted upon each of said shafts, re spectively, the cutters upon each shaft of any given pairbeing mounted to revolve in the same planesas the cutters'upon the'other shaft of said pair and the, shafts of each ,pair being so spaced apart as to leave sufficient clearance for the crossbars hereinafter mentioned to pass between and clear the opposed cutters, a bread support secured between the side members at approximately the level of the lower series of shafts, longitudinal slots formed in the bread support in the paths of the cutter blades, front and rear conveyor shafts revolvably mounted in the frame having sprocket wheels mounted thereon, sprocket chains mounted upon the sprocket wheels and traveling midway between the shafts of each pair of cutter shafts, a plurality of spaced conveyor bars secured to and extending transversely of the sprocket chains at right angles thereto, the ends of each bar extending outwardly a short distance beyond the sprocket chains and into the grac'vs liffifter mentioned beiiig'" to slide therein, a plurality of to M6 rearedge of each of said respective convir'e'i bars exteiiding' vertically above aiidb'e'ldw same and spaced thereon so travel between aei'- jaelit eiitter'blades; a longitudinal groove formed 1 hpeh the inner face or frame intermediate the opposed cutter shaftsahd'am ted to receive and guide the ends of the conveyor toll'mountd iii the name intermediate the feedfie ieahd thefifs't of the cutter shafts with lts periphery extending shgntiy'abdve fih feed table adapted toreceive successive loaves of bread from the feedtable and carry them fdrwardlymto contact with the cutters fipoi i fli pair of cutter shafts; aifid filahs 'foi" driving thlitfifQ the cmveyor bars; and the teedroll itlnmlt'al iefously at di fierentspe'eds r A bread slicing" machine comprising 8' fia'ni having parallel side members suitably secured in spacedrelation, a plurality of pairs 0f 1115961" lower cutter shafts m unted in the frame extendirig transversely thereof, a plurality of spaced 1 cutter blades mountedupmi eaclipf {said shafts,

respectively, the cutters upon each shatt or given pair being mounted tdfevol v' if! the samepla'nes as the cutters upon the other-shaft 0!- said' pair and the shafts of each pair being'rso spaced apart as to leavesufficient clearance for the lcrossbars hereinafter meritiorid to pass btween and clear the/opposed cutters,- a'bread sum port secured betweerithe side iiiiiib'efs asap-'- proximately the level oi the lowif series" of smite} 1 longitudinal slots formedin the breadsup ortm the paths of the cutter blades, from and conveyor shafts revolvably mounted in tlie' frame liaving sprocketwheel's mounted thereomspr'ocket chains mduntd upon the sprocket WHIS traveling midway between the; shafts ofeach pair of cutter shafts; a plurality o1? spewed conveyor bar's secured to and extending tfarisversely of the sprocket chains at right angles thereto, the'ends of each bar extending outwardly a} short distance beyond the sprocket chains and ifitd thelg' ioovs hereafter mentioned and beingadapted to slide 7 therein, a plurality 'of pins united to the rear edge of each; of said respective conveyor bars and Iextendingf vertically above and below same and spaced thereon so as to travel betweeir adjacent theihn hta'ce oieach side ira'rnihter'memaw the opposed cutter shat-ts amt adapted: to receive 1 table sea-meet 1 h madame a rear ran the frame intermediate the ieed -fielble' and 0:: the cutterqshaf-cs; its periphery tending slightl -above the fd talfl adaptedto v receive successive loaves oi Bream the feed:

the cutters the first pa'rir o'fewe? filaltifl a damage r011 mun' ted the frame acme rear of the broeld su port adapted aeeieme the movement ar the sliee'd a a tar driviiig the cmerashe conveyor hers, aha-me feed r011 simmsahw' my atdifferfifi 's m 1;

. 4-; A bteadlsl-iifig' machme comprising arrame' parallef side members Suitails'ly iii spaced" relation a plurality of pairs cf up'per'she' loweieutt'er' shafts irrthefiam extendmg transversely weaved,- a plurality c t-space}? cutter" blades mounted hhoh' orsaid sfiaft's; respectively, the cutters upon can?! s'fiafiifgiven part being moufltedto'revoive in" tii'e' same pair, and the shafts of each saith-ems apartas to leave ciea-rairee for ti i 'cro se bars haemafiei'me' fiiomr to pass hetw ee am clear the" opposeacutfieis, and the 'suc'cessiviep'arrs o'f shafts hemg d spaced that tl're succes iveiaavqs at bread com! hm) chhzactw'ith the 7 mg set orcutfter' biadesbefqr entireiy cieaf ing' a precedihg" set; a brea support seemed between the side members at approximateiy the level hf the ow r seriesof sfiaifts; io git di a siots farmed mthe'breacisupport mine paths or the cutter blades, front and rear cahve'yor shafts revolvably mounted in tlieframe ha ihg's'proeket wfieels mounted tlfreon; sprocket cliai'xis mounted upon the sprocket wheels and tr vel ing r'nidway between the" Shafts or eacli'pair oi fatter shafts; a plurality of; spaced!coiiv'er' o'ibarf'sfse cured tofaffld exteridiiigitransversely 10f tlie sprocket chains-at ri'ght angles'tlier'e'to, t e ends of eachbar extending outwardly a s ort di tance beyond the sprocket ha ns and int'cthegro' ves hereafter mentioned and b'eing' adapted to Slide.

therein, a piu'raiity or pins unitedto the; rear edge slightly abo'vethe feed tabi'eadapted to receive successive-ioaves'of bread from tlie feed tablealid carry-them forwardly into Contact with tl'i'e' ciit'-' te'rs' upon the first p'aii of cutter slid-fi s, and mean-sfoi'drivirig the cutt r shaffisat a lfiigli rate of speed and fol dfivifl the coh v'ey r Shel-fits at a niiieh slower rate 6! speecrahu fi drlvi flgi'fhe feed rolli 'atafi intermediate speed. i i

- HARRY/J: cRiNEm 

